An Evening with Roger McGuinn for Songs & Stories

Roger McGuinn, born Jim McGuinn in Chicago, was a seasoned musician by the time he co-founded The Byrds in 1964 with Gene Clark and David Crosby. Before that, he had already made a name for himself playing folk music with groups like The Limeliters and The Chad Mitchell Trio, and working with Bobby Darin in New York’s famous Brill Building. Inspired by hearing The Beatles, McGuinn began blending folk with rock beats in the coffeehouses of Greenwich Village. This innovative sound led to the formation of The Byrds, who went on to record iconic hits like “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Turn, Turn, Turn.”

After disbanding The Byrds in 1973, McGuinn pursued a solo career, releasing five albums on Columbia Records. In the 1980s, he returned to his folk roots and began touring acoustically. His 1991 album, “Back From Rio,” featured collaborations with Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, and other notable artists. McGuinn’s dedication to preserving folk music continued with his “Folk Den” project, where he shares traditional songs online. His album “Treasures From the Folk Den” (2002), which includes duets with folk legends like Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Folk Album.

From shaping the sound of folk-rock with The Byrds to his ongoing passion for traditional folk, Roger McGuinn’s career spans over six decades of groundbreaking music and storytelling.